Kapitonov, Viktor Arsenevich

Kapitonov, Viktor Arsen’evich

 

Born Oct. 25, 1933, in Kalinin. Soviet athlete; Honored Master of Sport (1958) and Honored Coach of the USSR (1970). Officer in the Soviet Army. Member of the CPSU since 1969.

Kapitonov was the first Soviet athlete to become an Olympic champion in bicycling (1960, Rome, road racing). He was a seven-time champion of the USSR (in 1956–64, in the marathon road race) and winner of the world bicycle race (as a team member) in 1958 and 1961–62. Kapitonov has been awarded the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Badge of Honor, and medals.